There are countless apps that can help you stay focused on productivity, schedule tasks and make to-do lists, and even learn to think about working differently. Many are free, and are available on all sorts of platforms, including both your phone and your computer. All in all, use apps to help reduce distractions, manage your time, and strengthen your mind against the tendency to procrastinate.

Steps

Method1

Reducing Distractions that Lead to Procrastination

1

Block distracting websites. People tend to do a lot of procrastinating online. If you've found yourself accidentally wasting significant amounts of time on your favorite websites, you're not the only one. The Freedom app can help prevent this by disabling specific websites from use on your device.[1]

The amount of time a website or group of websites is blocked it up to you. Use Freedom to schedule a productive work session by blocking all of the websites you visit for fun. The basic version of Freedom is free, and is compatible with Apple products, PCs, and Android phones.

A similar app called BlockSite is useful for Google Chrome users. Block websites for specified periods, with an automatic redirect to a site you should be visiting instead.

SelfControl is another app of this variety, which works on Apple products and will keep working even if you delete the app.[2]

2

Prevent other distracting apps from opening. AppDetox is a free Android app that enables you to set up specific blockage rules for the apps you tend to use when procrastinating. For instance, set AppDetox up to only allow you to open certain other apps on your phone a limited number of times per day.[3]

You can also set specific time periods during which an app cannot be opened.

When you do try to open an app you shouldn’t, AppDetox gives you a friendly prompt to get back on track by saying something like “Facebook? Not now.”

The Android app FocusON is very similar, and requires you to answer for your procrastination by typing out scripted confessions when it catches you trying to open unproductive apps or websites.[4]

3

Keep track of phone checks. Another major culprit in leading to procrastination is checking your phone. You’ll likely be surprised by how much time you’re wasting by doing so. Checky can give you a rude awakening by tracking how many times you check your phone per day.[5]

Checky is free for iOS and Android phones.

4

Use an app to track how you spend time on your device. RescueTime is a simple app that lists the specific apps you use and websites you visit, and how much time you spend on each. You can categorize findings to see a broad snapshot of your habits. For instance, you may spend 87 minutes a day playing games, with 80 of those minutes being spent on Pokemon Go.[6]

Use this information to identify things you’re spending too much time on. You will likely be surprised by what Rescuetime reports, including habits that may be contributing to procrastination.

RescueTime is free, and can be used on your computer or your phone. It’s compatible with Mac, PC, and Android products.

Another similar, free app for Chrome is called Trackr. This app is designed to track only the amount of time you spend on websites, not other apps as well.

5

Prevent yourself from easily disabling apps like these. Some apps can be disabled by entering a password. Take steps to prevent yourself from doing so. For instance, choose an extremely long password and write it down on paper instead of storing it on your computer. The hassle of entering 50 different numbers and letters will likely keep you from disabling these apps too readily.[7]

Method2

Managing Time Better to Avoid Procrastinating

1

Use Pomodoro.cc to specify productivity sessions. There is a productivity-enhancing approach to time management called the pomodoro technique that is helpful for some people. Basically, it can help you avoid procrastinating by guiding you to work for focused, specified time periods broken up by short breaks.[8]

The free web app will prompt you to work on specific tasks for an allotted 25-minute time period - a “pomodoro”.

This app will also help you better recognize the amount of time it should take to complete certain types of tasks.

Strict Workflow is another app that prompts you to work for 25 minutes, take a break for 5, and repeat. It also has built-in site-blocking capabilities.[9]

2

Use the pomodoro technique manually. If you want to work for a certain amount of time, then take a break for a certain amount of time, you can also use a simple timer to do so. Thyme is a free timer app for Mac computers that sits elegantly in your menu bar and tells you how long you’ve been working on a certain task, etc.

Stayfocused is another simpler version of Pomodoro.cc, designed for use with Google Chrome.[10]

3

Make a self-destructing tab with Take a Five. So, you successfully stayed on task for a solid hour and want to take a break to play online pool? You should! You should also use the free app called Take a Five to ensure your break doesn’t turn into a gaming marathon.[11]

Take a Five allows you to specify the amount of time a tab will stay open. It will then automatically close. Set it for ten minutes and break that rack - the clock is ticking.

4

Order your day more easily with Plan. First developed as a web-based app, Plan will help you organize when and where you need to be, as well as what you should be working on. More than just a scheduling app, it can help you keep from procrastinating when it feels like you have too much on your plate.[12]

Plan will compile reports about your productivity. If you happen to be more productive in a certain location, or at a certain time of day, Plan will make sure you know about it.

5

Commit to a concrete deadline. Finish relies on the motivating power of having a deadline. By prompting you to complete the initial steps of large projects by earlier deadlines, it prevents procrastinating until the final deadline looms. Finish also helps you sort and schedule specific tasks with different time frames. You’ll get reminders to finish tasks until you do.

Different settings allow you to reduce notifications, or only receive notifications regarding priority tasks, or use the app mostly for organization. Finish is only available for iOS products, and costs $0.99.

Exam Countdown allows you to schedule important upcoming responsibilities, prompting you to prepare for them ahead of time and offering tips about studying. It’s free and compatible with Apple products.[13]

Method3

Adjusting Your Mindset to Reduce Procrastination

1

Adjust your attitude with Beat Procrastination. This app can help you recognize and address the behaviors that contribute to procrastination. It walks you through meditations that train you to look forward to the completion of tasks. If you’re diligent about using this one, it may have a real effect on your tendency to procrastinate generally.[14]

Beat Procrastination costs $2.99, and works with Apple, Android, and Windows phones.

2

Get advice from Avoiding Procrastination 101. Another anti-procrastination therapy app, this one offers steps to overcome barriers to productivity after you tell the app why you’re procrastinating. The app may even help you identify procrastination triggers you didn’t realize are making you less productive.[15]

For around $1, you can use this app on an Android or Windows phone.

3

Use Procraster. This one tackles procrastination head-on. It will help prioritize the tasks you need to finish in order to get a project done. Once you tell the app you’re procrastinating, it will prompt you with recommended steps you can take to address the reasons you’re procrastinating.[16]

Beyond the recommended steps to take, the app will prompt you to set a timer for an allotted time period to work on a specific task, as well as a brief break period. This, again, is based on the pomodoro technique.

Procraster is just for iOS products, and costs $0.99.

4

Get yourself a virtual mother. Yelling Mom is an app that just won’t let you procrastinate. It simply prods you until you get to work. Schedule a task, and the app will aggressively alert you when its time to get to work. It will repeatedly remind you until you get it done. The drawbacks with this one are that you can change the settings and reduce its effectiveness, it’ll cost you $1.99, and it’s only available for iOS products.[17]